Gypsophila L. variety -- Or

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Gypsophila paniculata L. that is particularly characterized by its broad leaves and full, ball-shaped flowers with full petal coverage, some petals of which exhibit a pink corona.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the discovery and asexual propagationof a new and distinct variety of Gypsophila paniculata L. (a member ofthe Caryophyllaceae family, and sometimes called Baby's Breath). The newGypsophila variety is a mutation of the Gypsophila paniculata L. varietycommonly known as "Perfecta." The "mother plant" of the new Gypsophilapaniculata L. "Or" variety was discovered in a cultivated planting of"Perfecta" plants that were growing in a nursery in Moshav Olesh,Israel, wherein the "Perfecta" variety has been grown for years as acommercial source of "Perfecta" variety plants. The soil in the nurseryhad been sterilized between growth seasons; thus there is no possibilitythat the "Or" mutation was the result of cross-breeding, and the mostprobable source for the mutation is a spotted mutation.

The new Gypsophila paniculata L. variety of this invention has beennames "Or." Testing has shown the "Or" variety is stable in itsdistinguishing characteristics over several succeeding generations uponasexual propagation by using shoot cuttings and tissue culturing. "Or"is a decorative, graceful plant which is useful as an ornamental gardenplant, and its cut flowers are useful for creating floral decorations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying drawings illustrate the new variety in full color asgrown in a nursery in Kibbutz Gaaton, Western Galilee, Israel.

FIG. 1 is a picture showing plants of the "Or" variety obtained fromtissue culture propagation and subsequent shoot-cuttings propagation atan early growth stage, about two months after planting. The size of theplants can be estimated by comparing it to the distance between twoparallel wires, which are above the plant and spaced 20 centimetersapart; the wires are intended to support the plants at a later growthstage. As can clearly be seen in this picture, the leaves are broad andthey have a straight cross-sectional shape.

FIG. 2 is a picture showing plants of the "Or" variety at a later growthstage, about 21/2 to 3 months after planting. A flowering stem prior todevelopment of flowers thereon can clearly be seen in the center of thepicture. As can be seen, the stems are green and there is noanthocyanincoloration in the stem or axil. Furthermore, the characteristic leavesof this variety can also clearly be seen in this picture (in order toobtain a size scale, as in FIG. 1, the distance between the two parallelwires, seen here between the plants, is 20 centimeters).

FIG. 3 shows a plurality of flowering stems with flowers in full bloom.The diameter of the fully grown flowers is about 10 mm and their generalball shape is clearly apparent. Furthermore, as can be seen, several ofthe petals have a pink corona which is apparent as a pink hue on thefringes of the petals of the flowers. This pink color appears inapproximately 30 percent of the flowers, and always at the center of theinflorescence.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small lettersignify that the name of that color as used in common speech is aptlydescriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designatevalues based on the R.H.S. Colour Chart published by The RoyalHorticultural Society of London, England.

The descriptive matter which follows pertains to the "Or" variety ofGypsophila paniculata L. plants grown in Kubbutz Rosh Hanikra, WesternGalilee, Israel, in Kibbutz Gaaton, Western Galilee, Israel and inMoshav Olesh, Israel, and is believed to apply to plants of the "Or"variety grown in similar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere.

The "Or" Gypsophila paniculata L. variety that is the subject of thepresent invention has, inter alia, the following features andcharacteristics that distinguish "Or" from other Gypsophila paniculataL. plants and particularly from its parent, "Perfecta" (the varietyclosest to "Or"). Plant features and characteristics not specificallyset forth are substantially the same as that of the parent variety,"Perfecta."

The new "Or" variety is a rather tall Gypsophila plant, growing to about1±0.2 meters. It grows taller than the "Perfecta," which grows to about0.9±0.2 meters. The plant is rich with flowering stems, its stems freelybranching from the base up, forming a globose bush at flowering time.

The "Or" plant is a medium-to-late flowering variety, flowering about 10to 14 days later than "Perfecta" (the period of time from planting toflowering depends on the time of planting and light conditions, namely,natural or artificial). Inflorescence is diffuse and involves largepanicles with corymbiform branches. The plant produces myriads of small,white flowers, resulting in a mass of delicate bloom.

The new "Or" plant produces flowers that are full and larger than thatof "Perfecta." The flowers are ball-shaped and have a diameter, whenfully grown, of about 10 mm. While "Or" produces larger flowers than"Perfecta," its fertility is not affected; the "Or" variety is asfertile as "Perfecta," and produces just as many flowers. No attempt wasmade to "produce" seed from the "Or" variety.

The number of petals in the flowers of "Or" is larger than that in"Perfecta." in "Perfecta" there are fewer petals at the center of theflower and therefore, a green coloration appears. In "Or" the petalcoverage is full and so such coloration is absent. The longitudinal axisof the petals is recurved in "Or", but is straight in "Perfecta." Thesepals in "Or" are larger than in "Perfecta."

The petals in "Or" are White (R.H.S. 155 D), with some having a Pink(R.H.S. 56 C) corona, while all of the petals in "Perfecta" are plainwhite. Petals with a pink corona become apparent as a pink hue on thefringes of the petals of the flowers. This pink color appears inapproximately 30 percent of the flowers, and always at the center of theinflorescence. The pink color in "Or" is expressed stronger in thewinter and spring.

One of the characteristics of most Gypsophila paniculata L. plants is ananthocyanin coloration of the stems. A weak anthocyanin coloration canbe seen in the leaf axil of the parent variety, "Perfecta." Thiscoloration is, however, absent from the stems of the "Or" variety.

The leaves of the "Or" plant are wide and bright, and substantiallybroader than those of "Perfecta." The "Or" leaves are about 22-32 mm inwidth, while "Perfecta" leaves are about 10-20 mm in width. The leavesof "Or" are linear-lanceolate and have a straight cross-sectional shape,while those of "Perfecta" have a concave cross-sectional shape.

The conditions for growing "Or" are generally similar to those of otherGypsophila paniculata L. varieties.

Culturing plant material in order to obtain a large number ofmicroplants and plants is generally performed by micropropagationtechniques, known per se. Briefly, plant buds are cut off from plants ormicroplants and then inserted into a growth medium such as MS-nutrientmedium (Murashige, T. and Skoog, F. (1962) Physiol. Plant 15: 473-497).The micropropagation, in accordance with such a tissue culture growthmethod, requires the observing of strict sterile conditions. Thecultures are grown until microplants are obtained that are suitable forfurther propagation or for transfer to the soil.

The microplants are then transferred each to a separate flower pot in anair-conditioned, insect-proof room. The flower pots may contain a bed oftuff in which case nutrition is provided to the plants through theirrigation system.

In the next stage, the plants are transferred to a nursery where theymay also be grown in a tuff bed. The plants in the nursery arepropagated and used to found the "mother plantation." The propagation inorder to obtain the "mother plantation" and subsequently in order toobtain large number of plants may be vegetative shoot cuttings, namelyby the regeneration of plant from shoots cut from a mother plant.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Gypsophila paniculata L. plantnamed "Or" as herein illustrated and described.